Ultra-Processed Foods Are Harming Children: What’s Being Done About It
Ultra-Processed Foods Are Harming Children: What’s Being Done About It

By Jennifer Sweenie

Ultra-processed foods have become a significant part of many children’s diets, and it may come as no surprise that such foods come with a cost.

A cross-sectional study published in JAMA in May revealed that children who consumed high amounts of ultra-processed foods exhibited higher body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index, and fasting blood glucose and had lower levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind).

Understanding the implications of these dietary choices is essential for ensuring the well-being of future generations. The study highlights “the need for public health initiatives to promote the replacement of UPFs [ultra-processed foods] with unprocessed or minimally processed foods.”

How Are Ultra-Processed Foods Harming Children?

The negative health effects of ultra-processed foods are well-researched in adults, but according to the study authors, “the epidemiologic evidence in children remains limited and controversial.”

This cross-sectional study looked at 1,426 children aged three to six, with a median age of 5.8 years. Researchers categorized the children into three groups according to their levels of ultra-processed food consumption.

The findings revealed that children who consumed the highest amount of ultra-processed foods were more likely to exhibit risk factors such as elevated body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and systolic blood pressure.

The study highlights the link between ultra-processed food consumption by children and their future cardiometabolic health.

According to the study, excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages can delay the feeling of fullness, leading to eating more calories, and that many ultra-processed foods are designed to cause a quick spike in blood sugar.

Excess calories, saturated fat, and sugar will often lead to weight gain and a higher chance of obesity—a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The study also pointed out that children who eat large amounts of ultra-processed foods tend to take in fewer fruits and vegetables, which are known to be beneficial for cardiometabolic health.

Ultimately calling for the need for further research, the study concludes, “These findings highlight the importance of promoting unprocessed or minimally processed foods and reducing UPF consumption, particularly starting from early ages.”

A Growing Problem

Ultra-processed foods are widely available, inexpensive, and often marketed directly to children. The study notes that previous research has shown that the primary ultra-processed food items consumed include pastries, sugary beverages, cookies, and candies.

Children also consume large amounts of sweetened drinks and have a higher intake of ultra-processed foods than adults. A study published in Diabetes Care in 2023, projected the rate of Type 2 diabetes in people under 20 years of age will grow by close to 700 percent by 2060 in the United States.

Twenty percent of children and adolescents in the United States are obese, and 16 percent are considered overweight. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics in June found that one out of every five children or adolescents worldwide is carrying excess weight, with processed foods listed as a probable contributor, especially in the United States and Europe.

The good news is that the risk factors—diet and physical activity—are modifiable. A study published in 2019 in Pediatric Obesity found that children who adhered to a healthy lifestyle at four years of age, including reducing their intake of ultra-processed foods and increasing their exercise, demonstrated a decreased risk of obesity by age seven.

While addressing the root cause of the issue and implementing dietary and lifestyle modifications for children is ideal, other avenues for changes are currently being explored.

GLP-1 Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs for Children

One emerging course of action to counteract the effects of poor diet in children is the use of popular weight loss medications. Eli Lily & Company, which produces Ozempic, and Novo Nordisk, which produces Wegovy, have begun trials of GLP-1 medications on children as young as six. Wegovy is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children over the age of 12 with obesity.

GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a naturally occurring type of hormone produced in the intestine. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release. GLP-1 also helps to slow down the rate at which the stomach empties, which can help control appetite and reduce food intake.

GLP-1 medications, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are injectable drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes. They are synthetic versions of the naturally occurring hormone and work by mimicking the action of GLP-1, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. These medications can stimulate insulin production, reduce glucose production by the liver, and slow down the stomach’s rate of emptying. They can lead to better blood sugar control, weight loss, and a lower risk of cardiovascular events.

There are some unwelcome effects of using GLP-1 medications on children, however. A perspective published in The Journal of Clinical and Translational Science in 2023 addressed such concerns. The authors cautioned, “Little attention has been paid to the possible unintended consequences or adverse impact of these medications on children and adolescents during their critical period of growth and development.”

Unlike adults, who use calories as a source of energy for physical activity, children and adolescents are still growing and need energy from nutritious food for their developing bodies and organs. Therefore, the use of GLP-1 medications in children should be carefully considered, weighing the potential benefits against the potential risks to their growth and development.

The authors of the perspective recognize the benefit of GLP-1 medications for children with morbid obesity and Type 2 diabetes but also believe they are likely to be overused and possibly abused in the age group.

A Call for Labelling Laws for Ultra-Processed Foods

Another proposed solution is mandatory front-of-package nutrition labels for ultra-processed foods. Other countries have taken action in this area, and the United States may not be too far behind.

Last month, the Senate introduced the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act. This landmark legislation is the first federal law in the United States to prohibit the advertising of “junk food” to children and mandates that the FDA enforce health and nutrition warning labels.

It also calls for the National Institutes of Health to research the risks associated with ultra-processed foods and create a nationwide educational initiative for children through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The act aims to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed foods among children, thereby reducing the risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other related health conditions.

Front-of-package nutrition labeling has been shown to be effective in helping consumers make healthier food choices. Research suggests that clear and easy-to-understand labeling can influence consumer behavior as well as lead to changes in the formulation of products.

A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2021 found that after the implementation of a labeling law in Chile, there was a reduction in the use of sugar and an uptick in the use of non-nutritive sweeteners, such as stevia and sucralose, in packaged foods.

Products were reformulated to stay under the law’s cutoff for the amount of sugar. Data from the labeling law showed that families in Chile purchased 27 percent less sugar from foods with the warning label.

However, the effectiveness of front-of-package nutrition labeling may depend on the specific design and format used and the overall context in which it is implemented.


Discover more from USNN World News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

USNN World News Corporation (USNN) USNN World News is a media company consisting of a series of sites specializing in the collection, publication and distribution of public opinion information, local,...